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Subject: Re: WTB: PID temperature controller

From: "jmelson2" <elson@...>
Date: 2011-03-23

--- In Homebrew_PCBs@yahoogroups.com, "David C. Partridge" <david.partridge@...> wrote:
>
> And I guess only a very few can do profiles with dwell times (think re-flow oven soak time) or do that all do that?

Right, many of the units have an extra-cost option to do this. I got an Omega CN4800 for reflow control, but it has the ramp and soak feature, and I think lists for ~ $800. I got it on eBay for $60 or so.
So, I have it set to ramp to 180 C, hold for one minute, ramp to 235 or 245 (leaded or lead-free), hold for one minute, then ramp down.

The trick is to poke the thermocouple into a plated through-hole in the board, so you are controlling actual board temperature, not air temp.

Jon